Page 124 of Play the Last Card
Maybe it is fate.
What are the chances of this? Of my dad inspiring a young fan at a game between two teams who hardly ever play one another. Of that young fan taking a picture and my mom and me being in the background. Of that young fan becoming the best quarterback the league has ever seen—and no, I’m not biased.
Scott showed up in my life exactly when I needed him too.
He was drawn to Boston for whatever reason when he had sworn off the city for so long. But he came anyway. He felt like he needed to be here.
Then he walked into the bar.
Into my life.
“I think he sent me to you.” I look up, my lashes wet with the inevitable tears. “I think your dad sent me to you exactly when he knew you were ready. Is that stupid?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Not stupid at all.”
“I love you, Ivy.”
He brushes a tear from my cheek with a thumb. I lean up on my toes. “I love you, too.”
Epilogue
Scott
Eighteen Months Later.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Iriffle through my gym bag, pushing clothes, and cleats, and gym towels out of the way. Why the hell do I keep so much shit in this bag?
Fuck.
If I’ve lost this ring, Billy is going to haunt me from the grave.
The sound of the front door opening and closing filters upstairs. I freeze, listening. Ivy’s voice drifts my way and I go back to furiously rifling through my bag. My fingers brush against the velvet box just as Ivy appears at the top of the stairs with the phone pressed between her shoulder and ear.
She spots me and smiles. It still flaws me even after a year and a half together.
I tuck the box into my pocket as Ivy pulls the phone from her ear and then puts her bag in her office. I take a seat on the end of our bed and kick my bag away from me.
“Hi,” she says. Ivy comes down the hallway into our room. She’s still smiling as she saunters over to stand between my legs. I part them, letting her settle between them easily. Her fingers brush over my shoulders and she leans down to kiss me.
“How was your day?” I ask her, placing my hands on her waist.
“Boring,” she sighs, leaning into me. “What did you do today?”
“Started the deck outside,” I say as I dig my fingers into the fabric of her dress. I’ve slowly been working through the list I started when I moved in. A list that is never-ending. I finish one task, two more get tacked on. The back deck is the biggest project so far. I can’t do most of the building myself so the contractor will take care of it while we’re away.
It will be good to finally knock it off though. Just in time for Summer.
And when the weather turned so did Ivy’s outfits and I don’t hate it. She wears these summer dresses that show off her legs and I’ve enjoyed having the easy access.
“Mmm,” she hums. “How many barbecues can I expect to arrive or did you pick just one from the website?”
“I narrowed it down to two.” Ivy narrows her eyes at me and I smirk. “Okay, it’s three. But I want to make sure I get a good one. We’re going to be having all the guys over for the fourth.”
“Oh. I get it. You want to make sure you have the biggest and best toy to show off to your friends.”
“Stop it.” I know she’s teasing me. The tension that’s been building since I made my decision this morning eases a little. “It’s the off-season and you’re at school all day. I’m bored. Sue me.”
“Well, thankfully, I'll be done with school in a week.”